Top 5: Surprising Stats about the Economics of Fishing

…as revealed in this unexpectedly interesting recent report on CNBC.

The stats relate to the US specifically, but it’s likely you could apply the same logic to many other fisheries around the world. The studio debate that follows is a little tedious, what with everyone talking at the same time, but that’s the nature of these shows. Below are our five favourite quotes. To watch the report in full, click here.

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“12 million
people in
the US fish
recreationally”

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“The recreational fishery in Florida
– fresh and saltwater – is worth about
the same or more than the citrus industry.”
(Dr Aaron Adams, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust) 

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“Fishing generates an estimated $30 billion of economic activity in America every year.”

“Florida has
already lost
close to 50%
of its mangrove
shorelines.” 

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“Nationally, fishing provides the same number of jobs that Ford or General Motors does, and is worth more than American Express in retail sales.”